Mahant Bhai Gulab Singh Ji

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The first Amritdhari Mahant of Tikana Bhai Jagta Ji

Mahant Gulab Singh Ji

Mahant Bhai Gulab Singh Ji was born in 1881 AD in village Fazil, District Mianwali, now in Pakistan. His father Bhai Khazan Singh was a sincere devotee of Bhai Jagta Ji and his successors. He was a cattle trader by profession. Once, while visiting Nurpur to pay homage to Bhai Lakhmi Das Ji, the assignee of the dharamsala, he was so impressed that on his way back, he made a vow that if he had another son, he would dedicate him to the service of Bhai Lakhmi Das Ji. Almighty God heard his prayer and Bhai Gulab Singh Ji was born. Gulab Singh Ji was only two years old, when his father became unwell and realizing his end was near, he called his nephew Nidhan Singh and his wife and disclosed the promise he had made, and asked them not to defy his will and break his vow. When Gulab Singh Ji was ten, he was sent to the Tikana Sahib. Gulab Singh Ji was entrusted to the care of Mahant Bhai Lakhmi Das Ji, who took care of his spiritual training and made sure that Gulab Singh Ji learnt the Gurbani. When he became a sturdy teenager, he was entrusted with the care of the cattle at the Tikana Sahib. He was very diligent in performing his duties and became so engrossed that he would often forget to take care of himself, especially his kes(hair) and even his meals. The women devotees kept an eye on him and assisted in his care. Gulab Singh Ji would continuously recite the Japji Sahib all day while performing his daily chores. He was essentially a very happy, carefree personality. Having great aptitude, he learnt to take care of the affairs of the Dharamsala very quickly.

Mahant Lakhmi Das Ji chooses Bhai Gulab Singh Ji as his successor

Years later, as Mahant Lakhmi Das Ji, saw his end of his journey approaching, he invited Mahant Bhagat Singh Ji of the Dera Mitha Tiwana and the elders of Nurpur Thal to the Tikana Sahib, and conferred with them. The result of the conference was that they unanimously decided that Bhai Gulab Singh Ji would be the new assignee and manage the Tikana Sahib. He was called away from the cattle barn, bathed, and dressed in new clothes and turban, and brought into the congregation, where, as per tradition, a saffron mark was applied to his forehead, heralding his ascent to the spiritual throne of Bhai Jagta Ji. This was in September 1908 AD. A month after that ceremony, Mahant Lakhmi Das Ji left his mortal body and went to his heavenly abode. When Mahant Bhai Gulab Singh Ji took over the management of the Tikana, in those days, the Tikana Sahib was running under a debt of three thousand rupees. Once, the creditors came to the Tikana Sahib and express their dissatisfaction at not being paid back. Mahant Sahib, calmly replied, "Please control your temper. Your debts will be cleared. Have some patience." He then left to meditate and while in prayer, asked for guidance from the Lord. When he returned to his room, he noticed the pitcher that had been lying under his bed. The pitcher was filled with small shells. However, when he reopened it to look, he was astonished to see rupee coins in it. From that day on, the Tikana Sahib never went into financial troubles. In a short while, all the mud huts in the Tikana were rebuilt into a brick mansion with several residential quarters. The congregation hall was beautifully redesigned and rebuilt and other cabins were constructed for the resident sadhus and as well as an inn for visitors. Mahant Sahib soon also purchased a big tract of land in village Sadhwala and another building in Layalpur for the Tikana's activities. He also provided great assistance for a Khalsa School at the Dera Mitha Tiwana as well as a Gurdwara at Mohanpura. In addition he also got a beautiful upper storey constructed at Nanakana Sahib as well as living quarters at Dera Mahant Jawahar Singh Mitha Tiwana at Amritsar.

Receiving the Khande Ki Pahul

Mahant Sahib, was the first assignee of the Tikana Bhai Jagta Ji, who presented himself before the Panj Piare, at the Harmandir Sahib and partook of the Khande Ki Pahul. He, then inspired all his disciples to be baptized by receiving Khande Ki Pahul, and convinced countless(in thousands) Sehajdhari Sikhs to maintain unshorn hair and beards and receive the Khande ki Pahul. All his disciples and devotees of the Tikana considered themselves fortunate to be at his service and obediently complied.

The Gurdwara Reform Movement and the formation of the SGPC

The Gurdwara Reform movement started after the British demolished a boundary wall of the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi, to build a direct road to the Viceroy's Lodge, and the process was further accelerated by the controversies regarding the management practices of the Harmandir Sahib. The reformers succeeding in convincing the British and the Rakab Ganj wall was rebuilt and the issues at Harmandir Sahib and other Gurdwaras were resolved with their corresponding priests. An ad-hoc committee of 17 members was formed and despite disapproval from the British Government, Hukamnamas were issued from Sri Akal Takht, and an assembly was held on November 15, 1920 with agenda to formulate a plan for the management of Harmandir Sahib and other historical gurdwaras. The assembly resolved to form a large committee of 175 members to control all the Gurdwaras in Punjab province and well as other provinces. The committee was named 'Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee'(SGPC). The first meeting of the committee resulted in demanding the passage of legislation from the government to secure possession of the Gurdwaras from all the mahants. The Seva Panthi Deras and Tikanas were also included in their plans and would have been brought under the control of the SGPC, but for the spirit of abnegation, expressed by Mahant Baba Gulab Singh Ji.